Staffordshire farm raises thousands for guide dogs charity

A Staffordshire farm and tourist attraction has raised more than £6,000 for Guide Dogs UK after choosing the organisation as their charity throughout 2019.

Staff at the National Forest Adventure Farm, with mascot Crumpet, hand over a cheque to Guide Dogs (Centre of photo l-r): Madeline West – Guide Dogs volunteer puppy walker, with CJ the dog; Carol Trigg – guide dog user and official speaker for charity, with Flora the dog; and Pat Williams, Guide Dogs for the Blind representative for the Burntwood, Cannock and Lichfield region

The National Forest Adventure Farm, near Burton upon Trent, raised the sum after hosting staff fundraising events, as well as collecting donations from visitors at its annual Halloween event, Screamfest, and at its interactive maize maze attraction, both of which attracted thousands of visitors.

This money will now fund the education and care of a guide dog puppy, which is to be named Crumpet – after the farm’s popular mascot cow.

India Burnton, the farm’s 'charity champion', said the staff chose Guide Dogs as its official charity last year because the staff are all massive dog lovers.

Crumpet the Cow with Carol Trigg – guide dog user and official speaker for charity, with Flora the dog; Pat Williams, Guide Dogs Chair Person for Burntwood, Cannock and Lichfield and Madeline West – Guide Dogs volunteer puppy walker, with CJ the dog

“It’s impossible not to be touched by the amazing work the charity does to help visually impaired people lead more fulfilling lives,” she said.

“We choose a different charity every year and last year we wanted to raise as much as possible for Guide Dogs.

"We held staff events including a quiz and race night. Adventure Farm visitors and suppliers very kindly supported the charity by attending our dog-walk twilight maize maze event and posting money in collection tins around the site all last year.

"We are thrilled to have raised £6,434.84. We’re also chuffed to bits that we’re able to name a puppy Crumpet after our mascot.”

Crumpet the Cow and CJ the dog representing Guide Dogs charity

Thanking the attraction for its donation, Pat Williams, Guide Dogs chair person for Burntwood, Cannock and Lichfield, said: “Every day in the UK, 250 people start to lose their sight and we are here to help and support them to lead independent lives.

"We rely heavily on the kind donations such as this generous sum from the staff and visitors at the Farm so that we can continue our work.

"Every pound makes a tremendous difference to someone living with sight loss.”